Hazel Squirrel and Other Stories Part 5

He chopped and chopped at the big tree until he was rewarded by bright, yellow chips flying through the air.

Winkle, Twinkle and Sammy Woodchuck stood by and watched him with great admiration. Sammy Woodchuck said:

"You are doing splendid work, Pinkie Whiskers. I will take some of these chips home with me and put them across my front door. I always use the back door. It is more safe."

CHAPTER III

"Why do you bother to have a front door if you only pile sticks in front of it and never use it?" inquired Twinkle.

"Just to fool Farmer Gale's dog and any other animal, which might try to catch me. While they were digging at my front door, I could slip out my back door and escape," replied Sammy Woodchuck.

"Has Farmer Gale's dog ever tried to catch you?" asked Pinkie Whiskers.

"Oh, yes, indeed, many times," answered Sammy Woodchuck. "One time I was fast asleep when I heard a sniff, sniff at my front door. At first I thought that it must be part of a dream.

"I rubbed my eyes, sat up and listened. In a moment I heard the sniff, sniff again. This time it was very loud and near. Then I heard scratching and digging. I knew that dog, for I had seen him many times and I knew that he never stopped until he got what he was after.

"I could hear him digging so fast that I knew it would not be long before he would be right in my house. I began to move slowly and quietly for the back door. I got out safely and was running across the meadow when the dog saw me in the moonlight and gave chase.

"Of course I did not have a chance with him for I am so fat. He was gaining every moment and I was so tired and out of breath that I thought every step would be my last one, when a cat ran right between us.

"Now, the dog hated the cat worse than he did me, so he gave chase to the cat. Away they both ran at a terrible speed. I knew that the cat could run faster than the dog and would soon be safe and sound up a tree, so I rested a moment and then went over to Willie Woodchuck's and spent the rest of the night."

"My, that was a dreadful experience," said Pinkie Whiskers and he shuddered.

"Did you ever live in that house again?" inquired Winkle.

"Oh, no, indeed," replied Sammy Woodchuck. "That dog was sure to go back and he would never rest until he had dug clear through my home. No, indeed, I could not live there again. I stayed with Willie Woodchuck for a long time until I felt safe to find another spot to build my home."

Pinkie Whiskers did not chop while Sammy Woodchuck was telling his story. He just leaned upon his axe and listened. Now he said:

"Never mind, Sammy Woodchuck, you need never be afraid in your home again. I will chop down this tree and put it across your front door. No one can dig into your house then."

The tree was so big and Pinkie Whiskers was so little that Sammy Woodchuck had to smile to himself at the idea of his moving it. However, he did not let Pinkie Whiskers see him smile, for he did not want to hurt his feelings. He said:

"You are very kind, my dear friend, and I appreciate your wish to help me, but my home is too far away for you to drag that big tree to it."

"Poof! poof!" snorted Pinkie Whiskers. "I will show you what I can do."

He chopped away so fast and swung the axe so high and rapidly that it was just a s.h.i.+ny streak rus.h.i.+ng through the air. Suddenly he missed his aim and the axe came down on his toe instead of the tree.

"Oh, my toe!" he cried. "I've cut my toe."

Poor Pinkie Whiskers! He danced about on one foot in circles, while he held the other foot in his hand.

Sammy Woodchuck caught hold of him and threw him to the ground. Twinkle quickly slipped off the shoe which was badly cut and Winkle pulled off his little white sock.

They all anxiously looked at the toe and to their relief found that it was only cut a very little. In fact it looked as if it had just been scratched.

"We must bind it up with something," said Sammy Woodchuck.

"Here is my handkerchief," cried Twinkle.

"Here is mine and it is perfectly clean. Please use it," urged Winkle.

"I will need both handkerchiefs," said Sammy Woodchuck.

So he took both handkerchiefs and wound them very neatly around Pinkie Whiskers' toe and foot.

Pinkie Whiskers felt himself to be quite a hero. His toe did not hurt him any more and he liked all of this sympathy and attention.

CHAPTER IV

Pinkie Whiskers liked to be a hero so well that he limped about and grunted when he stepped on his foot, even though it did not hurt him. It was so nice to see how sorry everyone looked.

Suddenly he heard a voice above him say, "Too bad! too bad!"

"Why, h.e.l.lo!" cried Sammy Woodchuck. "Where did you come from, Billy Jay?"

"I have been right here in this tree all the time you and your little friends have been here," laughed Billy Jay.

"Why didn't you come down and visit with us before, instead of hiding up amongst the leaves," demanded Sammy Woodchuck rather crossly.

"Because I wanted to see if Pinkie Whiskers could really chop down this tree," replied Billy Jay.

"Of course I can chop it down. You just watch me," boasted Pinkie Whiskers. "If I were you, I would leave the tree, for it won't take me long to chop it in two and you might take a tumble."

Pinkie Whiskers forgot all about his toe and bandaged foot. He worked as he had never worked before. He became very warm and thirsty. He called to Twinkle:

"Won't you please bring me some water. I am choking."

"I would be glad to, if I knew where to find it," replied Twinkle.

"There is a creek just beyond those trees," said Billy Jay. "You can take his cap and fill it with water and bring it back to him. I will go with you and show you the way."

"I will go along also and help Twinkle carry the water back for Pinkie Whiskers. I am sure that cap would be very heavy if it were full of water," said Winkle.

"Umph! umph!" grunted Sammy Woodchuck. "You have very kind and thoughtful brothers."

Just then they saw Uncle Whiskers coming across the meadow with a pitch-fork in his hand.